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This is where we'll announce the most recent changes and additions to our web
site, as well as capture the latest news about our company and about the industry.
If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first.

Canadian Legal Wills Blog - August 2, 2015

Writing your Will can be a very simple process, but because it is only done a few times in your life, it can be intimidating. It can seem daunting because there are so many unfamiliar terms used in the estate planning world. Expressions that are second nature to the legal community, but are not in everyday use […]

We get this question a lot. “Once I have prepared my Last Will and Testament, and signed it in the presence of two witnesses, what do I do with it to make it legal? How do I register a Will?” When do you register a Will? In Canada, there is no way to register a […]

Hello, I am trying to seek additional information regarding updating a Will . My question is , every time I update or change my will, do I need to go after the witness every time to re sign? How do I go about changing, updating without having to get them re signed. Thanks. There is no […]

A month ago I was at a dinner party. I met a couple who had young children and the conversation naturally led to how we make a living. I explained that I was one of the founders of LegalWills.ca, the online convenient affordable service for preparing one’s legal Will. The couple were thrilled, they had two […]

I was told that if I don’t create a Will through a lawyer, it can be contested. Is that true? This is one of the most common misconceptions we hear related to preparing one’s own Will. If you prepare a Will through a lawyer’s office for $600 it won’t be challenged, but it you prepare […]

Everybody needs a Last Will and Testament, but does everybody need a Living Will? We are asked this question a lot, and the answer is not always clear. Everybody should prepare a Living Will, but not every Living Will is going to be used. Most people will never find themselves in a situation where they […]

“A note on Privacy: the protection and security of the documents created on our web site are of critical importance. In particular, we cannot access any information contained in a specific Will, nor can we read a person’s Will. However, we are able to access aggregated data from an encrypted database folder that summarizes the […]

CBC’s Marketplace recently featured a special – trying to find the most shocking fees faced by Canadians. The banks and airlines featured prevalently in the discussion, but so did lawyers. People seemed to be incensed by the nickel-and-diming billing practices and when it came to voting for the 5 most egregious fees, one particular lawyer was included. One […]

Having watched families fight over the estate and end up not speaking to each other for the rest of their lives, I can tell you first hand that leaving this world without making a plan for what’s in your estate is one of the worst thing you could do for your loved ones. Over the […]

At LegalWills.ca we claim that you can create a well-drafted Canadian Last Will and Testament in as little as 20 minutes. Clearly, there are some important decisions to be made, and it’s not something that should be written hastily, but if you have a straightforward situation and you know how you want your estate to […]

U.S. Legal Wills Blog - August 2, 2015

Most people have not got around to writing a Will. According to a recent survey 64% of adults in the US do not have a Last Will and Testament. The more significant concern though is that in the younger age groups (people under 35) the percentage is much higher. 90% of Americans aged 18-34 do not have […]

Much of our customer support effort is spent on correcting misunderstandings that have usually arisen from bad information that has been posted on the Internet. As with anything that you do once or twice in your lifetime, the terms will be unfamiliar, and there will be a lot to learn. But the task is made […]

Yeah right, $35 for a Last Will and Testament. There’s no way it can be legal One of the ongoing challenges we face is explaining to people how our Wills at $34.95, can work in the same way as a Will written for $800. But also differentiate our service from a free download site, where the […]

Everybody knows that they need to write a Will, but the stats show that only about a third of adults in the US have managed to get it done. Some say it’s the cost that puts people off, others say that it’s finding the time to make an appointment. In our experience of fielding calls through […]

I actually think it’s a good idea to have a living will. I’d encourage everybody to get one. I have one; Michelle has one. And we hope we don’t have to use it for a long time, but I think it’s something that is sensible. – Barack Obama, 2009 One of the most confusing services […]

Most people recognize that a Financial Power of Attorney (PoA) is a critical part of a complete estate plan. While a Last Will and Testament describes the distribution of your estate after you have passed away, the financial Power of Attorney allows you to give somebody to power to handle your business affairs if you are […]

In the last week alone I have seen a number of people asking the question on the internet “Is it okay to prepare my own Will using an online Will service”. I have been shocked at the amount of misinformation that has been posted in reply. To be clear, I am defending an interactive online Will service […]

We are seeing an increasing number of articles about “online Wills” but the definition seems to be vague. Let us explore what exactly is meant by an “online Will”. What is a Last Will and Testament There are clear laws as to what constitutes a legal Last Will and Testament and these laws are quite consistent across […]

I heard that if I write my own Will out in my own handwriting, I do not need to have it witnessed, is this true? If a Will is written entirely in your own handwriting, some States do not require that Will to be witnessed. This is known as a holographic Will or holograph Will. […]

You probably know that your Last Will and Testament is a description of how your estate will be distributed after you have passed away. It gives you an opportunity to recognize the people and organizations that have had an impact on your life and insures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. But […]

U.K. Legal Wills Blog - August 2, 2015

If you step through the service at LegalWills.co.uk, you can create a legal Will for £24.95. However, if you use the following discount code, you’ll get twenty percent off. You can have a legal Will in your hands in about twenty minutes for less than twenty quid. Everybody needs a Last Will and Testament, so what on earth would […]

Why do I need to pay to create a Will using your service, when I can get a free one downloaded from the internet, or buy a blank Will from WHSmith for a couple of pounds. We get this question a lot, and it is sometimes difficult for people to fully understand the difference between using an online […]

This is a guest post written by Juliette Kay One of the biggest expenses that you may occur in life is one that you’ll never actually have to pay for—but your family will. It’s your funeral expenses, and the true cost of a funeral may surprise you. Here’s a rough breakdown of what you might […]

There has been a great deal of discussion recently regarding the regulating of Will writing as a profession. On first glance it would seem strange that anybody can simply call themselves a “Will writer” and offer their services to prepare people’s Wills. So much so that the industry became quite competitive and aggressive, and we […]

Most people know that they need a Will, but many are put off by the cost of going to a solicitor, and the inconvenience of booking an appointment. Unfortunately, this leads people to resort to some poorly judged approaches to preparing their own Will – we are often asked if we can provide somebody with […]

Many people try to lead you into thinking that writing a Will is so complicated that only a qualified solicitor with years of training should attempt it. You have probably been told that attempting to write your own Will is only going to lead to misery for your loved ones. One of the most common scare-tactics […]

We’ve been offering a service to help you prepare your own Will for 14 years now, and to us, the task couldn’t be simpler. But as with anything that is only done a few times in your life, the process can seem intimidating. So we’d like to breakdown the steps involved in making a Will, hopefully […]

We always position our service as a happy mid-ground between expensive solicitor fees and the blank Will forms that you can download from the internet or buy from WHSmiths. The finished product of using an interactive online Will service is usually identical to a Last Will and Testament prepared by a solicitor. After all, a […]

I’d like to start by defining some terms. An Online Will service allows you to step through an interactive interview on the internet, at the end of which a document is generated. This document should then be printed and signed in the presence of two witnesses to create a legal Last Will and Testament. There […]

When you prepare a Will using our service, the final document will include many legal terms and unfamiliar language that we do not tend to use in our daily lives. There will be expressions like “testamentary dispositions” and you won’t find a layman’s word like “everything” instead the Will is going to refer to “all my estate, both […]

Expat Legal Wills Blog - August 2, 2015

The US diaspora reaches every corner of the World. There are sizeable US contingents in Mexico, the Philippines, Israel and Liberia, but this is just a start. Millions of US citizens are finding new lives in Europe, Asia and Africa there are millions of US citizens with statistical estimates of anywhere from three to six million […]

I am completely confused. I was told that a new arrangement with England and France will come into force this year, allowing me as an english woman domiciled in France to make a Will leaving my assets in France and in England to whoever I wish, as I could if I were domiciled in England. There are […]

Expats face some unique challenges when trying to write a Will. If they still hold assets in their home country, they need to create a Will separately to cover those assets, but the logistical challenge of say, creating a UK Will, while living in Thailand, is often insurmountable. We know that 65 percent of adults do […]

I am retired in Thailand, lived all over the place so I have assets in numerous countries and I wish to update my Will. On talking with a local lawyer he told me he can establish a will in Thailand to cover my assets here but I will need to do separate ones for other […]

The basics of a Will are pretty much the same in any jurisdiction in the World. The document needs to identify the person making the Will, describe the distribution of the estate, and be signed in the presence of two witnesses. It should also ideally name an Executor or estate administrator to carry out the […]

I have been assigned to a one year position in Dubai, but all of my assets are in the US. I know I need a Last Will and Testament, how do I get one written? This is a problem not only for people of temporary work assignments, but also for people who have permanently relocated, […]

This is one of our most frequently asked questions, but it can mean one of two things; A. Can I sit down with a blank piece of paper and write my own Last Will and Testament? B. Can I prepare my own legal Will without using a legal professional. Let us first explore question A. Can […]

For the last couple of years we have used https://legalwills.wordpress.com to share our thoughts on the importance of writing your Last Will and Testament. We have offered tips ranging from choosing an Executor to selecting the most appropriate guardian for your children. We have offered our views on celebrity estate planning news including articles on the […]

News Headlines - August 2, 2015

In the end, advance directives are an invaluable tool
In her position at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, Rhonda Brown has educated many people about advance directives. She makes a point to see that everyone she counsels has the information they need to complete the critical documents that aim ...

End-of-Life Lessons of Bobbi Kristina's Tragic Death
First and foremost, health and legal experts say Brown’s death spotlights the need for establishing written advance medical directives as early as age 18. These include the designation of a healthcare proxy, a living will, and a “HIPAA Release ...

Methodist Health System Offering Free Advance Directive Session
Methodist Health System is offering free advance directive sessions this summer and fall. Sessions are open to the public, and notaries will be present to complete documents. Advance Directives are for anyone of any age or health status, not just for those ...

The Trouble With Advance Directives
The man had written an advance directive four years ago, before his advancing dementia had made communication difficult. He had been very specific. In case of a life-threatening condition, “he wanted comfort care only, no heroics,” said Dr. Rebecca ...

Nebraska law students aid military veterans with legal needs
Over recent weeks, 14 veterans have received free counseling on drafting wills and naming powers of attorney through the Veterans Advanced Directive Clinic, the Lincoln Journal Star reported (http://bit.ly/1IfF7Vd ) Saturday. Ryan Sullivan, who teaches at ...

Why the 'Living Will' Process Sets Banks Up for Failure
Last Tuesday, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. rejected the living wills of 11 of the biggest bank holding companies in the U.S. This gives regulators inordinate control to restructure the companies as they see fit. The Dodd ...

Sign A Healthcare Proxy, Living Will And Power Of Attorney
Advancements in medical science and care may enable us to live fuller, longer lives. The flip side is that more of us are likely to suffer from a diminished mental state–a harsh reality that’s difficult to accept. Here’s a scary statistic: One in ...

Make a will – protect loved ones
Power of Attorney (POA, Living Will, Advanced Directive) There are two main types of Powers of Attorney: 1) Healthcare 2) General legal matters. A POA for Healthcare appoints the person or persons you want to talk with doctors or nurses about your medical ...

Why You Need a Living Will – Even at Age 18
Telling your end-of-life wishes to loved ones can save them from making difficult decisions. Though it may be difficult to think about, you won't live forever. Make sure you're prepared as soon as possible. In your teens and early 20s, death isn’t ...

5 Questions to Ask Before Writing a Living Will
It's one of those tasks on many people's to-do lists. But it’s way down at the bottom of the list: writing a living will. A living will is a legal document, also called an advance health care directive, which details how you'd like to be cared for if ...

The Right Way to Craft a Living Will
You're hospitalized and your family faces impossible choices. This is the scenario living wills are supposed to help with. By signing an advance directive, you think you're spelling out your wishes and preventing a nightmare like the fight among Terri ...

City living will feel like a blast from the past
Americans have heard much about, and seen little of, the urbanization of the suburbs. That will change, Duany says; people really will start living closer together, because economics will trump consumer preferences and developer habits. Much of what Duany ...

Can Power of Attorney be used for an Equity Loan?
Dear Mr. Premack: My mother is stricken with dementia, and I need to move her to a memory care nursing facility. The facility costs about $6,000 a month. She fortunately has about $4700 monthly income after taxes, so she's about $1,300 shy of affording the ...

What is a power of attorney?
For those who have taken on the huge responsibility of caring for their elderly parents, a spouse, or even the affairs of any family members in the military, consider the benefits of a power of attorney. A power of attorney is able to alleviate some of the ...

Power of Attorney role confusing
I read with great interest Carol Goar’s commentary on the lack of legal safeguards in our aging society. As one who last year took on an active Power of Attorney role for my mother, I witnessed first-hand what problems arise even with a legally notarized ...

Did brother abuse his power of attorney with Mom's $900K?
My brother chose to use our mother's savings account of $900,000 to buy land in Missouri and claims he is paying her more in interest than she was getting through the bank. She is in a nursing home now and is 89 years old. He was named power of attorney ...

Power of Attorney Is Not Always a Solution
FOR millions of people over the decades, the power of attorney has been an inexpensive way to give someone the right to act on another person’s behalf. But its power is not always absolute and when it fails, the consequences can be nothing short of ...

Family members of Charlie Sifford accused of $1 million theft
the county adult protective services agency and the Internal Revenue Service began after a complaint to law enforcement that Craig Sifford was abusing a power of attorney for his father. The couple had a home in Brecksville, the Cleveland suburb where ...

PRESS RELEASE: A Legal Will Does not Last a Lifetime
Most Canadians do not have a legal Will, but of those that do, most are not kept current.
The process of maintaining one's Will is extremely important, but with a lawyer it can be
inconvenient and expensive. A new online service by LegalWills.ca allows people to
maintain their legal Will conveniently and cost effectively.

Where There's A Will...
The one thing in life that is guaranteed is death, and it is never too early
to start thinking about your last wishes.

Living Wills
Death and dying-it's something that many people avoid talking about. But
refusing to talk about it and make your end of life decisions can cause
you--and your family--more grief and money than you may know.

Everybody's going to die, so we all need
Wills
It may not be a pleasant thought to think about, but it happens. Everyone
will die, and not all of us will die peacefully on our deathbed. It is vital
that everyone, including teens, have a will.

The Web of Grief
Mrs. Strom is one of countless bereaved individuals who have turned to the
Internet in their time of grief, using it not only to plan a funeral or
contact relatives, but to pay tribute to a life lost.

End of Life Care
There are a great many care options for the last days of life. Emotional
and philosophical concerns, deciding where to receive care, and legal documents
(such as advance directives, a health care proxy, and a living will) need
to be discussed, decided, and legally secured to ensure you receive the
treatment you want.

Clearing Up Estate Document Confusion
Few topics confuse investors more than figuring out what estate-related
documents they need. Living Wills, Living Trusts, and Powers of Attorney
are just a few of the terms that most find hard to define, let alone understand.

Legal Issues of Elderhood
There are four crucial documents each senior citizen should have: 1. An
updated and valid will; 2. A durable power of attorney; 3. A living will;
4. A durable power of attorney for health care.

Living Wills Can Help In Hard Times
Q: My family and my doctor have been pushing me to sign a living will. I'm
not comfortable signing a living will at this time. Do I really need one,
or is this something I can do without?

Digital Inheritance Raises Legal Questions
As more of our personal lives go digital, family members, estate attorneys
and online service providers are increasingly grappling with what happens
to those information bits when their owners die.

Families Need To Communicate End-of-Life
Wishes
What do "quality of life," "heroic measures" and "dying with dignity" mean
to you? What kind of care would you want if you were unable to speak for
yourself? What are your hopes and fears about the medical treatments you
might or might not receive? What makes life worth living or, conversely,
not worth living?

What Next?
So, you've planned carefully, consulted the professionals and have your
estate plan in order. Have you considered, however, what would happen if
you became incapacitated or died suddenly? Would your spouse, family, attorney-in-fact
or successor trustee know what to do?

Young, Single and in Need of an Estate Plan
Remember that hilarious episode of "Friends" where Ross convinces Rachel,
Phoebe and the others to sit down and write their wills and designate durable
power of attorney to each other in the event something should happen to
them?

Little Things Cause Big Problems After Death
Death and taxes. We can't avoid them. And though we talk about taxes, death
is a subject most of us avoid. We know it's out there and coming this way.
Yet, we don't discuss it.

End-of-life Issues
Few things are more unnatural than talking about the end of one's life.
It is a very uncomfortable topic to discuss with your partner, children,
family and sometimes even your health-care provider.

As a Life Ebbs, the Ultimate Family Quarrel
Many people will put off the writing of a Living Will thinking that their
family will be able to agree on the most appropriate care. Countless press
articles suggest that the 30 minutes or so that it will take to prepare
a Living Will is time very well spent.

Loved ones' ashes can give back to nature
As if shooting them into space or pressing them into artificial diamonds
were not sufficiently offbeat, the deceased can now have their ashes mixed
into concrete to help form ocean fish habitats.

The Desperate Case of Terri Schiavo
The lengthy legal battle over the fate of Terri Schiavo in Florida has heightened
people's interest in Living Wills and the Healthcare Power of Attorney.

Get Cracking On Will
People, in general, are often hesitant to prepare wills. There's a number
of reasons for this.

Internet Can Help Send Loved One On
Sure, you can buy a car, order flowers, download music, purchase videos,
fill prescriptions and even order pizza and grocery deliveries via the Internet.
But when a loved one passes away, would you log on to a web site such as
PartingWishes.com to send her on the way to the hereafter?

Online memorial adds second site for pets
A Canadian dot-com firm has expanded its business beyond online memorials
for friends and family members to create a site exclusively for honouring
the lives of pets.

Official Launch of the ILovedMyPet.com Web
Site
The web site is dedicated to assisting in the grieving process that follows
the loss of a loved family pet. Visitors can step through a simple
question-and-answer wizard to create a personalized memorial web page as
a tribute and commemoration to the life of their pet.

MyLife™ and MyMemorials™ services now Available
Have you ever wished you knew more about a relative who has now passed away,
their philosophies on life, their experiences, their achievements? Would
you like people to know the real you, after you are gone?

Out there: Remembering the dead
The price of immortality? How's 10 bucks sound? That's how much it costs
to create an online memorial to yourself that family and friends can visit
when you've left this mortal coil.

Create Funeral Plans, Wills at Unique Web
Site
No one wants to think about dying, but failure to do so can leave loved
ones in a bind. A unique Web site, PartingWishes.com, offers a variety of
services to help consumers deal with this difficult topic.

PRESS RELEASE:PartingWishes.com
Introduces New Online U.S. Legal Will Service
PartingWishes.com announces a revolutionary new service, enabling consumers
to create and update their Wills over the Internet. Now, from the comfort
and privacy of their own home, all that a consumer needs is an Internet
connection and about 30 minutes to create a custom Will that is legal in
their local jurisdiction.

Death Becomes You
Say goodbye to stodgy funerals. Boomers want more colourful sendoffs, something
with flair and personality. Flashy coffins and turning your loved one's
ashes into wearable gemstones are part of a whole new death experience.

Canadian MyWill™ Service is now Available
Who will care for your children? Who inherits your house, your money, or
your prized baseball card collection? At PartingWishes.com we have removed
the obstacles to writing a Will. It is convenient, low cost, and simple.

Family Feud Over Ted Williams Body
The family feud over Ted Williams' body deepened when his Will showed that
he wanted to be cremated, but the executor of his estate said the slugger
later decided to be frozen.

MyMessages™ service goes live
PartingWishes.com unveils the MyMessages™ service, which allows members
to prepare multimedia messages to be delivered to designated friends and
family members after they have passed away.

Complete Strangers May Get a Share of Your
Estate
Another case demonstrating the consequences of dying without a Will has
been reported in California. This time the California Supreme Court reluctantly
decided that a widow whose husband died without a Will must share his property
with his half siblings, even though he never knew of their existence.